Convolute Braided Textile Sleeve for Abrasion and Thermal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle applications require textile sleeves for elongate members to withstand increased environmental temperatures, abrasion resistance, and flexibility to navigate tight paths, but existing sleeves fail to meet stringent test parameters effectively.
Innovation Solution
A convolute braided textile sleeve with densely compressed crests and valleys, formed by plastically deformable or heat-settable yarns, provides enhanced abrasion resistance, thermal protection, and flexibility without kinking, achieved through an accordion-like shape that increases wall density and air volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a straight cylindrical wall structure is used, then the sleeve structure is simple, but the abrasion resistance and thermal protection are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by forming convolute crests and valleys along the axial length of the sleeve wall. This accordion-like convolute structure replaces the straight cylindrical wall, creating a curved, compressed configuration that increases wall density and provides enhanced abrasion resistance and thermal protection while maintaining flexibility.
2Strength
If the wall density is increased to improve abrasion resistance, then the thermal protection improves, but the flexibility and ability to navigate tight paths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous wall structure into a series of discrete convolute crests and valleys along the axial length. This segmentation creates a flexible accordion-like structure where each convolute can compress and expand independently, allowing the sleeve to navigate tight paths and sharp bends while maintaining high wall density for abrasion and thermal protection.
3Ease of operation
If plastically deformable yarns are used to form convolutes, then the flexibility and noise absorption improve, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the yarns by using plastically deformable or heat-settable materials. These yarns can be deformed during the braiding process to form the convolute structure, and the plastic deformation or heat setting permanently sets the desired shape. This parameter change allows the sleeve to maintain flexibility and noise absorption properties while being manufacturable through standard braiding processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sleeve offers superior protection against abrasion, thermal effects, impact forces, and noise transmission while maintaining flexibility to route through tight paths, enhancing the protection of elongate members without additional layers or coatings.
Implementation Method 1
At least some of the yarns are provided as plastically deformable and/or heat-settable monofilaments that can be plastically deformed and/or heat-set upon being braided to provide the wall with an accordion-like, convolute shape
Implementation Method 2
At least some of the yarns are provided as plastically deformable and/or heat-settable monofilaments that can be plastically deformed and/or heat-set upon being braided
Implementation Method 3
The densely compressed convolutes provide the wall with a greatly enhanced abrasion resistance
Implementation Method 4
The densely compressed convolutes provide the wall with a greatly enhanced thermal protection capacity due in part to the increased volume of insulative material and volume of air formed by and within the tight accordion-like shape of the wall
Implementation Method 5
The densely compressed convolutes provide the wall with a greatly enhanced noise absorption capacity
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A~4C
Figure 5A~5C
AI summary
A protective textile sleeve having a flexible, tubular wall of braided yarns and method of construction thereof is provided. At least some of the yarns include plastically deformable and/or heat-settable monofilaments and/or multifilaments that are plastically deformed and/or heat-set to provide the wall with a convolute shape. The convolute shape is formed by a plurality of alternating crests and valleys, wherein the crests are formed in tight, axially compressed relation with one another, with the valleys intervening between the crests being relatively narrow or short in axially extending length relative to the crests, providing the wall with an increased density, an increased abrasion resistance, enhanced thermal protection, enhanced impact resistance, enhanced noise attenuation. Further, with the wall having an accordion¬ like shape, greatly enhanced flexibility is attained without concern of kinking when routing the sleeve about meandering paths and about sharp bends, corners and the like.